43. Haunted

Isla’s POV

I had listened to my parents talk as they told me about how things have been going on in their lives since I moved out. They were still working a lot but have started to take vacations together to take a break and travel the world. I was glad that they did, they deserved it. They told me how they renovated the house but they’ve kept my room exactly how it is for when I visit them. I was really touched that they did and that I would have somewhere to stay if I did decide to visit them. It was my home away from home.

“And yeah, we’re almost done the garden in the backyard and after that, we’re done everything,” my mother explained. “Enough about us, how are things with you? How was your job opportunity in Presteigne?”

I had lied to them about the reason that I moved to Presteigne. I had told them that I had a job opportunity as a journalist there and that I had to move there but that I didn’t know how long I would be there. I had told Niall this this morning before we left Presteigne. That’s probably how they knew I was back but they still didn’t know the truth. So I took a deep breath as I prepared myself to tell my parents everything. I told Niall that I would be okay talking to them myself and that he should just enjoy the party with everyone else in the backyard while I was inside with my parents.

I cleared my throat, looking down at my fingers resting on my lap. “There…there was no job opportunity.”

Silence.

“What do you mean, dear?” my mother said.

“I wasn’t in Presteigne for a job.”

“Why were you there then?”

I then explained to them what had happened after the accident. How everyone had kept the truth from me, how they went along with it for a month, how I found out the truth the day that I was cleared by the doctors, how hurt I was, how I couldn’t handle things anymore, how I decided to leave to get away from everything, how I moved to Presteigne and cut off all connection to everyone I knew.

I stayed strong throughout the whole speech but I saw that my mother had tears in her eyes and my father’s face was filled with sympathy.

“Oh, baby, I’m so sorry you had to do that,” my mother said, resting one of her hands on mine and wiping her tears with a handkerchief my father handed her with her other. “But I’m sure they had a good reason for what they did, they care about you and they would never want to hurt you.”

I nodded. “I know, mum. I was just too overwhelmed when I found out and I didn’t know how to handle it, I didn’t know what to do. I thought that leaving was the best answer…but it wasn’t.” I put my head down and I felt my composure breaking down.

“I regret leaving. I really wish I never left. I shouldn’t have left them.” My voice started to break by the end of the sentence and I felt the lump in my throat as I tried to hold back the tears. I felt a finger rest under my chin and then my head being pulled up. I looked into my mother’s eyes and found myself breaking down for what felt like the millionth time in the past four months.

Tears streamed down my face and worry filled both of my parents’ face.

“What’s wrong, pumpkin?” my father said.

My mother moved to sit beside me and started rubbing my back as my father took her old spot and grabbed my other hand.

“Please promise me that you won’t think of me less once I tell you what happened,” I sobbed.

“Oh, sweetie, we would never,” my mother said. “You’re our daughter and we will love you through anything. Please tell us what happened.”

I looked down at our hands, avoiding their gazes as I took a deep breath.

“When I left for Presteigne, I was so depressed. I thought that it would be good for me but it had the opposite effect. I missed home so much. I missed everyone. I wanted to go home but I was scared about how things would be between me and my friends after I left them. I thought that they would be mad at me or not care about me anymore. And then…one day, I couldn’t take it anymore. I felt…emptiness and worthlessness. I felt like there was nothing left for me anymore. So…I wanted to end my life.”

I heard my mother gasp as she brought her hand up to cover her mouth.

“I’m so sorry!” I sobbed. “I was being so selfish. I wasn’t thinking about how it would affect everyone, how it would affect the both of you. I’m sorry.”

My mother started crying again and my father’s grip on my hand tightened.

“Did you…try to?” my mother finally said.

I nodded. “Yes.” I paused, letting my parents take it in. “I stood in front of a train and I just waited for it to end my life.”

By now, my father had to hold onto my mother’s hand, too.

“But someone saved me.”

Both of my parents’ heads whipped towards me.

“What? Who?” my mother asked.

I closed my eyes as flashbacks of the monster raced through my mind.

“Sweetie?” my mother said.

I opened my eyes and held onto their hands tighter.

“His name was James. He saw me standing on the tracks and he ran to push me out of the way.”

“He saved you? Where is he now? We have to thank him!” my mother exclaimed.

“No, mum. I mean, he did save my life but…he…he…” I started to hyperventilate and the room started spinning and getting blurry.

“Isla? Sweetie? Are you okay?” my mother said but her voice sounded distorted.

You’ll never get rid of me! I’ll find you and I’ll kill you! And then I’ll kill every person that you love!

His face flashed in my mind and I closed my eyes. I couldn’t breathe.

I felt someone grab my arms. I stood up, trying to wrench myself from that person’s grasp. But they held on tighter.

“NO! Let go of me!”

“Isla!”

I will find you!

“NO! Stay away from me!” I shouted.

“Isla! Isla!” my mother’s frantic voice could be heard from beside me but it sounded like she was far away. I heard footsteps rushing away from me and a door sliding open before multiple pairs started running back towards me. I felt the pair of hands release my arms and I started taking steps back.

I know where you are and I will get you! I will hurt you again like I did before!

My eyes were still closed, trying to rid of his image from my mind.

“Isla! Isla!”

I felt a pair of hands grasp my face. I flinched away.

“NO! Leave me alone! Please don’t hurt me again,” I sobbed.

“Isla, it’s me,” the voice was calm and soothing and familiar. I felt hands lightly rest on my cheeks again. I started to calm down from this new voice. It made the old, haunting one fade away along with the face that went with it.

Slowly, I opened my eyes and they focused on the bright, blue ones staring back at me with worry and fear.

“Niall?” I whispered.

“I’m here. I'm here. You’re safe.”

He kept my face in his hands as he waited until I calmed down. While I was trying to calm myself, I saw that my mother was crying in my father’s arms and Harry was standing beside them with his arms crossed and eyebrows furrowed.

I pulled Niall to me and buried my face in his chest. He wrapped his arms around me and I instantly felt the fear subside and was being replaced with security. I stayed there in the comfort of his arms as him and Harry explained everything to my parents. They told my parents about me meeting James, trusting him and then the horrible things he did to me. Then they told them about finding me and coming for me and what happened with him afterwards.

My mother was crying the whole time and my father’s face was growing red in anger. Hopefully not towards me.

Once they explained everything, my parents turned towards me.

“Sweetie, I’m so sorry. About everything,” my father said. “You did not deserve that. What he did to you--” He closed his eyes as anger filled his features. He took a deep breath before opening his eyes. “We’re just glad you’re safe now and that he’s gone. He won’t be able to hurt you anymore. I’ll make sure of that. Everyone here will make sure of that.” His face softened as he looked at me.

I sniffled. “You’re not angry with me?”

“Of course not! There was nothing you could do about it. He threatened you and he took advantage of you when you were alone and vulnerable. He’s scum, he’s a horrible human being. He deserves to suffer for what he did. If I ever see him, I’ll make sure that he will never be able to hurt anyone else again,” my father said.

“I’m so sorry. For everything I’ve caused,” I said.

“Don’t apologize, Isla,” my father said. “None of it was your fault. Please don’t beat yourself up about it. It’s all in the past. Let’s all just leave it behind us.”

I smiled up at my father before slowly pulling away from Niall. I gave Niall a smile before getting up and walking up to my parents and hugging them. They engulfed me in a tight hug.

“We’re sincerely sorry about not spending a lot of time with you before you moved out,” my father said.

I wanted to tell them not to apologize but I just accepted it because it was nice to know that they realized their mistake for not spending time with me. That’s all I ever wanted from them. I didn’t want their money or cars or clothes. I just needed their love. And now, I feel like I have it.

They got into the cab and waved from the window before driving away. Tears were falling but I was smiling. I’d see them soon, I’d make sure of it.

I took a deep breath to compose myself before walking back to the house.

I stepped inside and looked around the room. Niall and Harry weren’t in the living room anymore so I went out to the backyard to find them. I saw them with the rest of the boys and the girls so I quickly walked up to them.

Niall saw me first and he gave me a smile before walking towards me and wrapping his arms around me.

“Same. And I’ll do anything I can to make sure it doesn’t. I’m always here for you.”

I smiled before pulling back and looking at him. “I know. And I’ll always be there for you, too.”

I looked over Niall’s shoulder and saw Harry looking at me and smiling. I looked back at Niall and gave him a quick smile and a squeeze of his hand before walking over to Harry.

I stopped in front of him before wrapping my arms around his neck. He was frozen at first but then I felt his arms wrap around my waist.

“I wanted to thank you, too,” I said. “For everything you’ve done for me since all of you came for me. And for helping me today when you explained to my parents about what happened. I couldn’t seem to do it.”

He pulled back and looked at me. “I’d do anything for you.”

I could tell that his words held more meaning to it than he made it sound but I didn’t want to push any further so I just nodded and smiled at him.

“Are you okay, though? You scared me in there,” he said, worry filling his eyes.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I said. “I knew I had to tell my parents about him. I just didn’t know that that would happen. But I just want to forget about him. About everything. I just want to focus on now.”

He gave me an understanding smile before pulling away from the hug. I turned around and faced the whole group again. They all exchanged looks before looking at me.

“Look, Isla, we wanted to apolo--”

I raised my hand up at Eleanor, silencing her. “Not right now. Let’s just enjoy the rest of the night and we can talk about it tomorrow once we’ve all had a good sleep.”

They all looked relieved as they smiled at me.

“Let’s party!” Louis exclaimed. Shouts of agreement went around the group as they passed around drinks to everyone. El handed me a red cup filled with beer and we all made a circle and raised our cups in front of us.

“For Isla,” El said. “For coming back to where she belongs.” I gave her a smile.

“For Isla!” they all exclaimed.

“And for Narnia!” Louis concluded. We all laughed as we went around giving each other a toast before taking a drink. I felt the bitter taste run down my throat and warming my stomach before spreading in my veins.

I needed to relax for the remainder of the night. I needed to distract myself from the thoughts running through my mind. And those thoughts were the things that me and the rest of the group would be talking about tomorrow.

I’d be finding out the reason why they kept the truth from me.

I’d be finding out what happened between me and Harry.

I’d be finding out how me and Niall got together.

I’d be finding out everything that had happened in the year of memories that I’d lost.

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This chapter is dedicated to Sophie!! and 1DHazzasGirl. Go check out their fanfics!

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Sorry I scared some of you at the end of the last chapter haha. But anyways, please let me know what you think of this chapter and what you think will happen next :)

And I wanted to let you guys know that I changed some of my usernames:

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